Apparatus for wrapping with flexible heat sealable material



Dec. 19, 1967 R J. FELLNER ETAL 3,358,420

EALABLB MATEEIAL APPAEATUS FOR E'I'EAFPiNG WITH FLEXIBLE HEAT 5 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed day 25, 1967 INVENTORS P. J. FELLNER BY: E. S.M/CK/EW/GZ Dec. 19, 1967 J FELLNER ETAL. 3,358,420

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING WITH FLEXIBLE HEAT SEALABLE MATERIAL Filed May25, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS BJ. FELLNEI? BY 55. MICK/EW/CZUnited States Patent 3,358,420 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING WITH FLEXIBLE HEATSEALABLE MATERIAL Phillip J. Fellner and Edward S. Mickiewicz, Racine,

Wis., assignors to Sturtevant Industries, Inc., Sturtevant,

Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 25, 1967, Ser. No. 641,232 5Claims. (Cl. 53-390) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Brief description of theinvention The invention relates to and provides an aid for manualpackaging of an article or filled receptacle with soft, flexible,thermoplastic material by drawing the material from a roll andcompletely overwrapping the article, placing the article on a pedestaland substantially simultaneously cutting the partially wrapped articlefree from the remainder of the rolled material by means of anadvantageously positioned hot wire, and stretching and pulling theoutwardly extending ends of the wrapping material tightly downwardlyover the edges of the article and under it to completely and tightlywrap the article regardless of its shape. The wrapping process is alldone without the necessity of at any time releasing or losing hold ofthe wrapping material.

The introduction of soft or Pliofihn material into the food wrappingindustry has resulted in a number of objectionable features in the useof such material. It has been found that due to its ready adherence toany surface, and particularly to itself, it must be supplied in rollsrather than cut sheets as previously supplied. When wrapping by hand, itmust be used as it is unrolled from the roll in order to eliminatehandling problems. Wrapping equipment has been developed which enablesan operator to pull out a predetermined length of paper, overwrap andunderwrap the article by moving it toward the operator and automaticallycutting the sheet of material as it is moved toward the operator. Theoutwardly extending edges of the wrapping material are tucked under byhand and the package placed on a hot plate to seal the bottom of thepackage. The outwardly extending ends may be pulled across the bottom ofthe package if the operator holds the package in his hand and folds oneend at a time. Such prior art apparatus is shown generally in the UnitedStates Patent No. 3,176,443 which issued on Apr. 6, 1965, to WilliamKlamp, and over which the present invention is an improvement.

Generallyflhe invention provides improved apparatus for wrappinganarticle in soft, Pliofilm, heat scalable material which are very fastand simple in operation and tightly and completely wraps the article ofvarying configurations, and which permits the quick and easy wrapping ofthe material against the bottom of the package, assuring a seal acrossthe bottom edges which is subsequently heat sealed.

With the present invention, there is no bunching of the wrappingmaterial on the bottom of the package, and a smooth and fiat bottom ofthe finished package is assured as one having a good seal.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of theapparatus made in accordance with the present invention, the view beingtaken from the operators side, certain parts shown as being broken away;

FIGURES 2 to 7 are fragmentary, perspective views, taken from the sideopposite to that shown in FIGURE 1, and showing the series of steps inwrapping an article in accordance with the present invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention The wrapping apparatus provided bythe present invention includes a frame F supported on the floor or otherconvenient surface, which frame has an upper end, which may include atable top T, located at a height convenient to the operator. A number ofrolls R (only one shown) of soft Pliofilm material M may be rotatablysupported on the lower portion of the frame whereby a particular type orwidth of roll may be selected for drawing material therefrom. Thematerial M is drawn up by its free end 1 through the laterally extendingpassage 2 in the upper end of the frame. The article, which may be in atray 3, is then wrapped by the operator and placed on the heatedconveyor 4 located adjacent the apparatus whereby the conveyor acts toheat seal the bottom of the completed package.

For convenience of description, the side of the apparatus toward theoperator will be referred to as the rear side, while that remote fromhim the front side. The other two opposite sides may be characterized asthe lateral sides.

The articles to be wrapped are fed to the apparatus by an endlessconveyor or other means (not shown), and in wrapping operations of thischaracter, extreme speed of wrapping is important. With the presentinvention, an article can be wrapped in an extremely simple, fast andeasy manner.

Referring more specifically to the Wrapping apparatus, a first support 5is provided adjacent the upper end of the frame and is of a width lessthan that of the article A so that when the article A is placed thereon,the lateral sides A1 and A2 of the article extend laterally beyond thewidth of the first support. The support is shown as a plate member whichis inclined at an angle which extends upwardly in a direction away fromthe operator.' The support 5 is thus elevated or positioned to provideclearance beneath the article, when resting on the support, to enablethe operators fingers to easily move under the article.

Prior to commencing the wrapping operation, the wrapping material, whichis very adhesive to itself or anything it comes in contact with, extendsupwardly through the passage 2 and has its free end 1 resting on the topof the table adjacent the operator whose hands only are shown. This isthe position the edge assumed after the termination of the previouswrapping operation.

To commence the wrapping operation, the operator would insert hisfingers into the passage 2 at either side of the material M (FIGURE 1),then grasp the material adjacent its free leading edge 1 and lift itupwardly (FIG- URE 2) asuflicient distance so that when he then movesthe free end of the wrapping material over the article (FIGURE 3), it issufiiciently long to extend completely around the front edge of thearticle which is located remote from the operator.

In FIGURE 3 it will be noted the material is being rolled around thefront edge of the package by the operators fingers so that the wrappingmaterial completely and smoothly covers the entire length of the forwardedge I of the article (FIGURE 4) and the operators hands are has alsotightly stretched the material over the article in the general sweepingmotion away from himself and then back underneath the forward edge ofthe article. Because of the fact that the article A extends laterally toeach side of the support and has clearance underneath, the operator can,with one smooth sweeping motion, completely overwrap the material andlocate the leading edge 1 of the material under the article A withoutbunching of the Wrapping material.

The operator then moves the article toward himself and, as shown inFIGURE 5, has placed it on a second support located adjacent their rearor operators side of the apparatus. It will be noted that the support 10is formed as a pedestal and is also of a width considerably less thanthe article to be wrapped so that the article, now in the partiallywrapped form, extends laterally over either side of the second support.The second support 10 is also elevated sufiiciently so that adequateclearance is provided thereunder for the operators hands as willpresently appear. When in the position shown in FIG- URE 5, the operatormoves his hands laterally outward from one another, tautly stretchingthe wrapping material laterally over both the top and bottom of thearticle and it will be noted that in this position, the wrappingmaterial is smooth, and evenly and tautly drawn across the entirearticle. It should be noted that all of the motion of the operator tothis point has been in one continuous sweeping or looping motion of hishands. The material around the article has also been severed from itsroll as will now appear.

The material is severed from its supply roll R immediately after theoperator has stretched the material laterally across the bottom of thearticle, and as the partially completed package is being set down on thesecond support. The heat severing means 14 is conventional and includesthe hot wire 15 which is electrically energized in the conventionalmanner and is secured by appropriate insulators 16. This wire is locatedabove the rearwardly and downwardly inclined surface 17 of the table topand as the partially completed package is set on the pedestal, thematerial comes into contact with the wire, immediately severing it. Thisforms a new leading edge 1a (FIGURE 7) of the material which is readyfor the next wrapping operation.

After the severing operation, as shown in FIGURE 6, the operator thencommences to immediately push his hands downwardly below the level ofthe article and, with a continuous sweeping movement, brings his handstowards one another beneath the article, and then raises it (FIGURE 7).This is possible due to the clearance provided under the article at eachside thereof and the relative dimensions of the support and article.

The operator has thus lifted the package ofl? the support and his handsat this time (FIGURE 7) are still moving one another and pressing orsmoothing the lateral ends of the material tightly and firmly againstthe bottom of the package P. Simultaneously the operators hands aremoving toward the conveyor 4 on which it i placed for heat sealing ofthe entire bottom ofthe package.

In addition to the angled platelike support 5 shown in the figures, anysuitable means may be installed on the top of the frame for holding thepackage in the elevated position and providing the necessary clearanceunder each lateral side of the package. For example, the support 5 maytake the form of a simple bar which is adjustably inserted in a seriesof holes in the table top. Thus, the bar may be adjusted to accommodatepackages of various sizes or shapes.

Recapitulation The wrapping apparatus provided by the present inventionpermits su orting the article with its lateral sides free, drawing theinaterial over the article and then under its front edge thereby tautlyoverwrapping the article,

lifting the overwrapped article and moving it so as to underwrap it andsimultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directionsthereby stretching it taut laterally over both the bottom and top of thearticle, again supporting said partially wrapped article with itslateral ends free and substantially simultaneously urging that materialwhich extends from the partially wrapped article against a heatedsevering means, pulling the free lateral ends of the material downwardlyaround the lateral sides of the article and under the article, smoothlypressing those ends along the bottom of the package so formed, and thenheat sealing the bottom.

All of the above motions are continuous and very rapid and the operatorat all times has definite and positive control of the wrapping material,it being unnecessary to shift the weight of the package from one hand tothe other in order to tightly wrap the material completely around thearticle. This is possible even during that portion of the wrappingmethod movement where the lateral ends of the material are broughtunderneath the partially formed package and smoothed along its underside.

Whenever a food product of varying outer configuration is placed in atray, it is difiicult to be sure that the ends of the wrapping materialare sealed if they are not pulled into tight engagement with theseedges. By supporting the package in a position where the operator canpull the material under the package, a seal is assured completely alongall of the edges of the package.

After the package is completely wrapped, it is placed on the hotconveyor where the heat of the belt will seal the ends of the materialto the bottom of the package. If a heat shrinkable material is used, aheat tunnel may be placed on the end of the conveyor to shrink thematerial if required.

We claim:

1. Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, softand thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising, a framehaving an upper end located at a height convenient for an operatorstanding at a rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper endand at a front side thereof which is opposite to that rear side at whichsaid operator stands, said first support adapted to support an articlewhile being overwrapped, a second support adjacent said upper end ofsaid frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severingdevice extending laterally across said upper end of said frame andlocated between said supports for severing said wrapping material oncontact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across saidupper end of said frame and located between said first support and saidsevering means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may bedrawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from saidframe and overwrapping the article on said first support, said severingmeans adapted to sever material moved thereagainst after the overwrappedarticle is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means towardssaid second support, said second support being of a lateral width lessthan said passage means and less than that of the article to be wrappedand mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides ofan article resting thereon.

2. Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, softand thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising; a framehaving a front side, a rear side, laterally opposite sides, and alsohaving an upper end located at a height convenient for an operatorstanding at said rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upperend and front side of said frame, said first support being of a lateralwidth less than that of the article to be wrapped so that the lateralsides of the latter extend laterally beyond the sides of said firstsupport, said first support also being positioned so that there isclearance beneath said laterally extending sides of said article when onsaid first support, a second support adjacent said upper end of saidframe and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severingdevice extending laterally across said upper end of said frame andlocated between said supports for severing said wrapping material oncontact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across saidupper end of said frame and located between said first support and saidsevering means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may bedrawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from saidframe and over an article on said first support, and over the articlefront edge which is remote from said operator and then beneath saidlaterally extending sides of said article, said second support alsobeing of a lateral width less than said passage means and also less thanthat of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance underthe laterally opposite sides of the article resting thereon, saidsevering means adapted to sever the material extending from thepartially wrapped article after the latter is underwrapped by beingmoved over said severing means and placed on said second support.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that saidsecond support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the heightof said severing means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that saidsecond support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the heightof said severing means.

5. A wrapping apparatus comprising, a package supporting means forsupporting an article to be wrapped in plastic wrapping material, saidarticle including a flat tray support; passage means extending laterallyacross the rear end of said supporting means, means for storing a rollof plastic sheet material below said supporting means; the end of saidplastic sheet material being adapted to be drawn upward through saidpassage means adjacent one edge of said supporting means and over thetop of an article located on the supporting means; a severing device forsevering the plastic sheet material moved thereagainst disposed adjacentthe said one edge of the supporting means, below its upper surface; anda support pedestal disposed on the other side of said severing device;said support pedestal being of such size and location that a packageplaced on the pedestal can be tightly underwrapped in the wrappingpaper, said pedestal also being of a lateral width less than that ofsaid passage means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,725,699 12/ 1955 Rumsey 5 3-4202,987,864 6/1961 Miller 53-390 3,176,443 4/1965 Klamp 53390 WILLIAM W.DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. N. ABRAMS, Examiner.

1. HAND WRAPPING APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING AN ARTICLE WITH FLEXIBLE, SOFTAND THERMOPLASTIC WRAPPING MATERIAL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING, A FRAMEHAVING AN UPPER END LOCATED AT A HEIGHT CONVENINET FOR AN OPERATORSTANDING AT A REAR SIDE THEREOF; A FIRST SUPPORT ADJACENT SAID UPPER ENDAND AT A FRONT SIDE THEREOF WHICH IS OPPOSITE TO THAT REAR SIDE AT WHICHSAID OPERATOR STANDS, SAID FIRST SUPPORT ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AN ARTICLEWHILE BEING OVERWRAPPED, A SECOND SUPPORT ADJACENT SAID UPPER END OFSAID FRAME AND LOCATED ADJACENT THE REAR SIDE THEREOF, A HEATED SERVINGDEVICE EXTENDING LATERALLY ACROSS SAID UPPER END OF SAID FRAME ANDLOCATED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTS FOR SEVERING SAID WRAPPING MATERIAL ONCONTACT THEREWITH, AND PASSAGE MEANS EXTENDING LATERALLY ACROSS SAIDUPPER END OF SAID FRAME AND LOCATED BETWEEN SAID FIRST SUPPORT AND SAIDSEVERING MEANS WHEREBY A LEADING EDGE OF SAID WRAPPING MATERIAL MAY BEDRAWN BY SAID OPERATOR UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID PASSAGE MEANS FROM SAIDFRAME AND OVERWRAPPING THE ARTICLE ON SAID FIRST SUPPORT, SAID SEVERINGMEANS ADAPTED TO SEVER MATERIAL MOVED THEREAGAINST AFTER THE OVERWRAPPEDARTICLE IS UNDERWRAPPED BY BEING MOVED OVER SAID SEVERING MEANS TOWARDSSAID SECOND SUPPORT, SAID SECOND SUPPORT BEING OF A LATERAL WIDTH LESSTHAN SAID PASSAGE MEANS AND LEGS THAN THAT OF THE ARTICLE TO BE WRAPPEDAND MOUNTED TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE UNDER THE LATERALLY OPPOSITE SIDES OFAN ARTICLE RESTING THEREON.